Mining industry in a democratic South Africa

Abstract

The minerals-energy sector is the core of the South African economy constituting a third of gross domestic product. Gold mining dominates the mining industry, but is in a long term crisis due to reserve depletion.

In this article Paul Jourdan, coordinator of the minerals and energy policy of the African National Congress, analyses the future of the South African mining industry. He points to the need of widening the industry through greater production of other minerals and in the long term, most importantly, the need and possibility of greater benefication.